FCFACGCE Guitar Tuner

FCFACGCE Open Fmaj9 8 String Tuning, Rob Scallon. - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Open Fmaj9 8 String Tuning, Rob Scallon.

This tuning is used in Rob Scallon's songs Anchor, Homehomehome, Theater Girl and 8 String + Loop Pedal.

This 8-string guitar tuning, famously used by Rob Scallon in tracks like "Anchor," "Homehomehome," "Theater Girl," and "8 String + Loop Pedal," offers a rich and expansive sonic palette.

Verbal Analysis

True to its name, the Open Fmaj9 tuning provides a massive, resonant chord when played open. The arrangement of notes across eight strings creates an immediate sense of grandeur and harmonic complexity. It's a tuning that lends itself to atmospheric soundscapes, intricate fingerstyle, and heavy, melodic riffs, characteristic of Rob Scallon's innovative style. The extended low range of the 8-string combined with the open Fmaj9 voicings allows for deep, organ-like drones and sparkling upper harmonics, giving the instrument a full, orchestral feel, ideal for both rhythm and lead applications.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to F1-C2-F2-A2-C3-G3-C4-E4 (from lowest to highest). Analyzing these notes reveals the foundation of an Fmaj9 chord extended across the entire range of the 8-string instrument:

F (Root): Present on strings 8 (F1) and 6 (F2). These provide a powerful fundamental and octave drone.
A (Major 3rd): Found on string 5 (A2), establishing the major tonality.
C (Perfect 5th): Repeated on strings 7 (C2), 4 (C3), and 2 (C4). The abundance of the fifth offers strong harmonic support and a broad resonance.
G (Major 9th): On string 3 (G3), adding a sophisticated, jazz-influenced extension to the chord.
E (Major 7th): On string 1 (E4), completing the dominant seventh quality and giving the chord its lush character.

This arrangement provides a full Fmaj9 chord (F-A-C-E-G) across multiple octaves and positions, making it incredibly resonant and harmonically rich. The repeated F and C notes act as powerful drone strings, reinforcing the root and fifth. The presence of the open A (major 3rd), E (major 7th), and G (major 9th) allows for immediate access to complex jazz-influenced voicings or lush pop harmonies. Common chords within reach include a full open Fmaj9, F major (by omitting the G and E or playing selective strings), C major (using open C and G strings), and various suspended chords. The consistent intervals make it relatively intuitive to explore other related chords and arpeggios along the fretboard, especially those built on the root (F) or the fifth (C).

How to Tune

To achieve the Open Fmaj9 tuning, adjust your 8-string guitar as follows:

String 8 (lowest): To achieve F1, tune down 1 semitone.
String 7: To achieve C2, tune up 1 semitone.
String 6: To achieve F2, tune up 1 semitone.
String 5: To achieve A2, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 4: To achieve C3, tune down 2 semitones.
String 3: To achieve G3, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 2: To achieve C4, tune up 1 semitone.
String 1 (highest): To achieve E4, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

While no extreme string tension changes are required for this tuning, always pay attention to your guitar's intonation and string tension after any tuning adjustments.

String 8: F1
String 7: C2
String 6: F2
String 5: A2
String 4: C3
String 3: G3
String 2: C4
String 1: E4